Magnetic 3d terrain gaming tiles for use in miniatures gaming

ABSTRACT

A magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile comprising: a slab having a top surface and a bottom surface; a plurality of edge walls extending away from the bottom surface of the slab so as to define a bottom recess; a plurality of pockets disposed in the bottom recess; and a plurality of spherical magnets disposed in the plurality of pockets; wherein one spherical magnet is disposed in each of the plurality of pockets, with the spherical magnet being rotatably captured within the pocket.

REFERENCE TO PENDING PRIOR PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims benefit of:

(1) pending prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/954,805, filed Dec. 30, 2019 by Michael Limoli et al. for MAGNETIC 3D TERRAIN GAMING TILES FOR USE IN MINIATURES GAMING (Attorney's Docket No. LIMOLI-1 PROV); and

(2) pending prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/088,105, filed Oct. 6, 2020 by Michael Limoli et al. for MAGNETIC 3D TERRAIN GAMING TILES FOR USE IN MINIATURES GAMING (Attorney's Docket No. LIMOLI-2 PROV).

The two (2) above-identified patent applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Miniatures gaming is a form of gaming in which players enact battles between opposing forces that are represented by miniature physical models. By way of example but not limitation, fantasy miniatures gaming involves battles between miniature physical models of fantasy characters. By way of further example but not limitation, wargaming miniatures gaming involves battles between miniature physical models of military units.

In miniatures gaming, the terrain is also represented by miniature physical models, e.g., fields, forests, hills, rivers, roads, buildings, floors, walls, bridges, etc. Terrain is further enhanced with the use of sectional components depicting staircases, doors, windows, and the like.

In order to allow gamers to quickly and easily create a wide range of different terrains for different gaming scenarios, it has become common to utilize modular 3D terrain gaming tiles to form the gaming terrain, wherein selected ones from a “library” of 3D terrain gaming tiles are assembled together, edge-to-edge, on a surface (e.g., a table top) so as to create the desired game terrain.

In some cases the 3D terrain gaming tiles are simply set edge-to-edge (e.g., on a table top), without being secured to one another, so as to collectively form the desired terrain.

In other cases, the 3D terrain gaming tiles are connected to one another with connectors, so that the gaming tiles are locked together as a group on a surface (e.g., on a table top).

More particularly, there are currently several manufacturers of 3D terrain gaming tiles, and a much larger number of entities providing 3D models of buildings, walls, bridges, etc. for a user to mount to a 3D terrain gaming tile (or in the case of larger 3D models, to a group of 3D terrain gaming tiles). Examplary 3D terrain gaming tiles 5 are shown in FIGS. 1-3.

As noted above, the 3D terrain gaming tiles may be designed to sit adjacent to one another, but not be secured to one another. This arrangement has the advantage that the gaming terrain may be quickly modified by simply lifting out one 3D terrain gaming tile and replacing it with another 3D terrain gaming tile. However, this arrangement has the disadvantage that the 3D terrain gaming tiles may shift in position relative to one another, e.g., such as if they are inadvertently bumped during play.

As a result, most 3D terrain gaming tiles are designed to be “locked” to adjacent 3D terrain gaming tiles using clips. In general, these clips are designed to protrude into, and lock into, recesses formed in the side walls of the 3D terrain gaming tiles, with each clip spanning the boundary line between two adjacent 3D terrain gaming tiles. FIGS. 4 and 5 show several exemplary clips 10 which are commonly available in the marketplace.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary clip 10 inserted into a recess 15 formed in a 3D terrain gaming tile 5.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary clip 10 just prior to insertion into a recess 15 formed in a 3D terrain gaming tile 5.

Unfortunately, using these clips 10 to lock adjacent 3D terrain gaming tiles 5 to one another suffers from several disadvantages.

First, if it is desired to replace one or more 3D terrain gaming tiles from within a larger group of 3D terrain gaming tiles (such as, for example, if it is desired to modify a gaming terrain), replacing those 3D terrain gaming tiles can be difficult if the 3D terrain gaming tile is bounded by other 3D terrain gaming tiles (e.g., such as where the 3D terrain gaming tile to be replaced is bounded on all side by other 3D terrain gaming tiles).

Second, lacking an industry standard, one style of clip may be usable with one type of 3D terrain gaming tile but it may not be usable with another type of 3D terrain gaming tile. Furthermore, where a clip is usable with one type of 3D terrain gaming tile but not another type of 3D terrain gaming tile, clip incompatibility may prevent different types of 3D terrain gaming tiles from being used together. See, for example, FIG. 8, which shows how a clip 10 may fit in one 3D terrain gaming tile (left portion of the image) but cannot fit in another 3D terrain gaming tile (right portion of the image).

FIGS. 9-11 show the undersides of various currently-available 3D terrain gaming tiles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises the provision and use of a novel magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile which enables users to “connect” together magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles without the use of clips or the need for “homemade” modifications. Instead, the novel magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile incorporates the use of strategically placed and shaped stand-offs to hold a spherical magnet (having North-South poles, also sometimes referred to as N-S poles) in a pocket formed by the stand-offs on the bottom of the magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile. The spherical magnetic is contained within the pocket formed by the stands-off but has enough space to allow for rotation of the spherical magnet within the pocket. This rotation permits the edges of adjacent magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles to be placed against each other and the spherical magnets to always rotate to find their north-south poles, thereby magnetically “connecting” together adjacent magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles via magnetic attraction force (i.e., so that a spherical magnet of one magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile can align one of its N-S poles with the N-S pole of a counterpart spherical magnet of an adjacent magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile, whereby to allow for magnetic attraction between the two spherical magnets and hence to provide magnetic attraction between the two adjacent magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles, be it a floor, wall, staircase, door, etc.).

The novel magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles can be connected to one another, on any side, on a surface (e.g., a table top) to prevent sliding of the magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles relative to one another; and/or the novel magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles can be placed on a ferrous metal surface (e.g., a metal table top) to prevent movement of the magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles relative to the ferrous metal surface; and/or the magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles can be stacked vertically on one another to allow for the stacking of entire levels or floors for the ease of multi-level dwellings, lairs, etc.

Note that the magnetic connection of adjacent novel magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles is not only useful during creation, display and use, it is also useful to hold the novel magnetic 3D terrain tiles in position during transport.

Note also that by using magnetic attraction to releasably connect adjacent magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles, tiles can be easily “switched out” as desired, even if they are bordered by other magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles.

The novel magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles can be provided in a range of sizes. Larger magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles will be consistent in design to their smaller counterparts, with the spherical magnets spaced at regular intervals to enable alignment and connection of various magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles of different sizes.

In one preferred form of the invention, there is provided a magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile comprising:

a slab having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a plurality of edge walls extending away from the bottom surface of the slab so as to define a bottom recess;

a plurality of pockets disposed in the bottom recess; and

a plurality of spherical magnets disposed in the plurality of pockets;

wherein one spherical magnet is disposed in each of the plurality of pockets, with the spherical magnet being rotatably captured within the pocket.

In another preferred form of the invention, there is provided a method for releasably securing a plurality of magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles to one another, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles, wherein each of the plurality of magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles comprises:

-   -   a slab having a top surface and a bottom surface;     -   a plurality of edge walls extending away from the bottom surface         of the slab so as to define a bottom recess;     -   a plurality of pockets disposed in the bottom recess; and     -   a plurality of spherical magnets disposed in the plurality of         pockets;     -   wherein one spherical magnet is disposed in each of the         plurality of pockets, with the spherical magnet being rotatably         captured within the pocket; and

positioning a first magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile adjacent to a second magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile so that a spherical magnet of the first magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile aligns one of its North-South poles with a North-South pole of a counterpart spherical magnet of the second magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and features of the present invention will be more fully disclosed or rendered obvious by the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, which is to be considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts, and further wherein:

FIGS. 1-3 are schematic views showing exemplary 3D terrain gaming tiles;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic views showing exemplary clips for locking conventional 3D terrain gaming tiles to one another;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an exemplary clip inserted into a recess in a 3D terrain gaming tile;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing an exemplary clip just prior to insertion into a recess in a 3D terrain gaming tile;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view which shows how an exemplary clip may fit into one 3D terrain gaming tile but may not fit into another 3D terrain gaming tile;

FIGS. 9-11 are schematic views showing the undersides of various currently-available 3D terrain gaming tiles;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are schematic views showing a preferred embodiment of a magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are schematic views showing a typical use of the novel magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles shown in FIGS. 12 and 13; and

FIGS. 16-18 are schematic views showing an additional magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile formed in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Looking now at FIGS. 12 and 13, there is shown a preferred embodiment of a magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile 100 formed in accordance with the present invention.

The magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile 100 generally comprises a slab 105 having a top surface 110 and a bottom surface 115. Edge walls 120 extend from slab 105 so as to define a bottom recess 125.

Ribs 127 may be provided on the bottom surface 115 of slab 105, with ribs 127 extending between edge walls 120.

A plurality of stand-offs 130 are used to create a plurality of pockets 135 on the underside of magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile 100. Spherical magnets 140 are rotatably captured within pockets 135. The plurality of pockets 135 are located within bottom recess 125 just interior to edge walls 120 so that spherical magnets 140 are rotably captured within bottom recess 125 just interior to edge walls 120.

More particularly, each of the stand-offs 130 comprises a post 145 descending from bottom surface 115 of slab 105. An overhang 150 is formed on the free end of post 145. The overhangs 150 of adjacent stand-offs 130 cooperate one another so as to form the pocket 135 which rotably receives the spherical magnets 140. Preferably edge walls 120 form a portion of pocket 135. Edge walls may comprise recesses 155 to enable spherical magnets 140 to be located closer to the perimeter of the magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles 100, whereby to improve magnetic attraction between adjacent magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles.

As noted above, the spherical magnetics 140 are contained within the pockets 135 formed by the stands-offs 130 but have enough space to allow for rotation of the spherical magnets 140 within the pockets 135. This rotation permits the edges of adjacent magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles 100 to be placed against each other and the spherical magnets 140 to always rotate to find their north-south poles, thereby magnetically “connecting” together adjacent magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles 100 via magnetic attraction force (i.e., so that a spherical magnet 140 of one magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile 100 can align one of its N-S poles with the N-S pole of a counterpart spherical magnet 140 of an adjacent magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile 100, whereby to allow for magnetic attraction between the two spherical magnets and hence to provide magnetic attraction between the two adjacent magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles, be it a floor, wall, staircase, door, etc.).

The novel magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles 100 can be connected to one another, on any side, on a surface (e.g., a table top) to prevent sliding of the magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles 100 relative to one another; and/or the novel magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles 100 can be placed on a ferrous metal surface (e.g., a metal table top) to prevent movement of the magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles 100 relative to the ferrous metal surface; and/or the magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles 100 can be stacked vertically on one another to allow for the stacking of entire levels or floors for the ease of multi-level dwellings, lairs, etc.

Note that the magnetic connection of adjacent novel magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles 100 is not only useful during creation, display and use, it is also useful to hold the novel magnetic 3D terrain tiles 100 in position during transport.

Note also that by using magnetic attraction to releasably connect adjacent magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles 100, tiles can be easily “switched out” as desired, even if they are bordered by other magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles 100.

The novel magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles 100 can be provided in a range of sizes. Larger magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles 100 will be consistent in design to their smaller counterparts, with the spherical magnets 140 spaced at regular intervals to enable alignment and connection of various magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles 100 of different sizes.

A typical use of the novel magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles 100 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15).

Additional Novel Magnetic 3D Terrain Gaming Tile Design

In the novel magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile 100 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the tile is formed (e.g., molded) as a single piece, and the bottom recess 125 is open.

FIGS. 16-18 show an additional novel magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile 100 in which a base 160 is provided so as to close off bottom recess 125. In this alternative magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile 100, ribs 127 may comprise female recesses 170. Base 160 may comprise base fingers 175 which seat in female recesses 170 when base 160 is seated on edge walls 120.

Note that in the magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile 100 shown in FIGS. 16-18, a plurality of spherical magnets 140 are disposed alongside each of the edge walls 120.

The additional magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile design shown in FIGS. 16-18 increases the attraction strength between adjacent magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles, which will hold them in place more firmly and allow more versatility in building (e.g., higher walls, multiple floor levels, overhangs, etc.), and allows adjacent magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles to be offset from one another, again offering greater customer build variation.

Among other things, the magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile design shown in FIGS. 16-18 provides:

-   -   additional magnet locations;     -   modified magnet holding features;     -   a base for closing off bottom recess 125; and     -   added mating features for the base component (which mounts to         the bottom of the tile).

MODIFICATIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It should be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the present invention, may be made by those skilled in the art while still remaining within the principles and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile comprising: a slab having a top surface and a bottom surface; a plurality of edge walls extending away from the bottom surface of the slab so as to define a bottom recess; a plurality of pockets disposed in the bottom recess; and a plurality of spherical magnets disposed in the plurality of pockets; wherein one spherical magnet is disposed in each of the plurality of pockets, with the spherical magnet being rotatably captured within the pocket.
 2. A method for releasably securing a plurality of magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles to one another, the method comprising: providing a plurality of magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles, wherein each of the plurality of magnetic 3D terrain gaming tiles comprises: a slab having a top surface and a bottom surface; a plurality of edge walls extending away from the bottom surface of the slab so as to define a bottom recess; a plurality of pockets disposed in the bottom recess; and a plurality of spherical magnets disposed in the plurality of pockets; wherein one spherical magnet is disposed in each of the plurality of pockets, with the spherical magnet being rotatably captured within the pocket; and positioning a first magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile adjacent to a second magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile so that a spherical magnet of the first magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile aligns one of its North-South poles with a North-South pole of a counterpart spherical magnet of the second magnetic 3D terrain gaming tile. 